According to Vladimir Putin, politics is a very complicated and dangerous business. There are few leaders in the current European community who have the courage to express their own opinions. One of them is Czech President Zeman. Milos, that’s his name, has repeatedly provoked a flurry of criticism over the past few years. His direct and honest stance jeopardizes European solidarity. Yes, and President Milos Zeman himself is a very interesting figure. Let's talk about him.
Milos Zeman: biography
A person is forged by the circumstances that he has to face in life. A special influence on the formation of character has childhood. This truth is proved by no one else than President Zeman. Milos was born in September 1944. It was an extremely difficult time. There was a Second World War. In addition, his mother divorced soon after childbirth with her husband, leaving his son only the name Zeman. Milos grew up in an incomplete family. Therefore, he had to learn to make decisions and take responsibility at an early age. Mom taught at school, the son was the only man in the family. For a future career, he chose the economic direction. But in high school, he wrote a lecture criticizing teachers. Zeman Milos was deprived of the right to enter a university.
I had to earn a living. He worked in a construction organization. Only in 1965 he was allowed to study further. He chose the Prague VES. The future leader of the Czech Republic was engaged in it in absentia, since his mother could not provide him with enough funds for higher education. In 1969, he received a diploma and became a teacher at VES.
The beginning of a political career
You probably remember that Czechoslovakia belonged to the socialist camp. Speaking against the system in those days was a punishable act. As a member of the Communist Party, Zeman Milos managed to openly criticize the entry of Warsaw Pact troops into the country. He called this act occupation, for which he was expelled from the HRC. This was his first political experience. Further, until the collapse of the socialist camp, he did not engage in social activities. Zeman devoted all his time to research. Given that his diploma was called Futurology and the Future, it is clear that he devoted himself to researching methods of building a prosperous society. Since 1990, for two years, the future president Milos Zeman worked at the Academy of Sciences, more precisely, the Institute of Planning. At the same time, he was elected as a deputy of the country's parliament. Research experience and knowledge gained have greatly helped in government activities. Zeman's popularity grew. However, ahead were troubles, which can be called a test of resistance.
Responsibility is the main quality of a politician
Zeman’s work in parliament was seen by voters. He was considered a very responsible figure, a reliable leader. In 1998, he took up the post - deservedly, and the Prime Minister, being the leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party. His decisions and political position allowed him to hope for the support of the people in the upcoming presidential election. The calculation, according to experts, was correct, but reality presented an unpleasant surprise. Zeman nominated for the 2003 presidential election. At that time, he was a member of the Social Democratic Party (Social Democratic Party). This force was considered very influential, that is, Zeman should have been supported. However, he lost the election in the first round. He was simply betrayed. The second person in the party, Stanislav Gross, organized a provocation, as a result of which even members of the SDHR cast their votes to rival Zeman. This situation led to an irreconcilable conflict in the party leadership. In 2007, the future president broke up with comrades who turned out to be unreliable schemers.
Between the people and the elite
It is no secret that the electorate often supports the wrong candidate in terms of leadership. The Czech Republic was faced with exactly this situation. Zeman Milos rightfully enjoyed the love of the population. He is respected for honesty, integrity, openness. In addition, working in the state system, he proved by his deeds that he puts the interests of the country and its inhabitants at the forefront and was ready to protect them in every possible way. Such a “revolutionary” did not fit into the tolerant elite of the European Union. Moreover, the situation in the world was beginning to heat up. The West rallied in front of the threats emanating from Russia and China.
Top of power
In 2012, the first direct elections of the head of state were held in the Czech Republic. It was a chance. And Milos Zeman took advantage of it. He nominated himself for the presidency. In the first round, 25% of the republic’s population voted for him. In the second, he turned out to be the winner, overtaking his competitor, Karl Schwarzenberg, by 9%. He took office in 2013. After some time, Zeman was again in the front pages of the media. His integrity has again proved itself.
Zeman and Russia
With the outbreak of the Ukrainian conflict, the world faced the threat of a new Cold War. Opinions and assessments of Western leaders disagreed with the position of the President of the Russian Federation on this issue. It came to the point that the 70th anniversary of the Victory in World War II, along with the peoples of Russia, did not want to be celebrated by the heads of other countries participating in the anti-Hitler coalition. Czech President Milos Zeman was the only representative of the collective West who dared to go against the majority. He arrived in Moscow on May 9, stood next to Vladimir Putin, thereby emphasizing that he was opposed to lies and injustice. In his opinion, Europe is obliged to feel gratitude to the Russian soldier for liberation from fascism. Which he demonstrated on behalf of his people, calling on himself another series of attacks. However, this did not break President Zeman. He is consistent in his own views, never bends under commands from Brussels and Washington. At the Victory Parade in China in September 2015, he was again in the ranks of those who consider the defeat of fascism an important milestone in the development of mankind. The story does not end there. The future will judge who is right: the elites of the Czech Republic , who regard Zeman with contempt and fear, or the people who gave him sympathy and expressed confidence.